Gunmen kill Austrian rafter in Ethiopia

Gunmen kill Austrian rafter in Ethiopia

VIENNA, Jan 7 (Reuters) - An Austrian man was shot dead
during an apparent robbery of his travel group that was rafting
down the Blue Nile river in Ethiopia, the foreign ministry said
on Monday.

Three other Austrians accompanying him were unharmed in the
incident that occurred on Sunday in remote country near Bahir
Dar, about 570 km (350 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa. The
gunmen attacked the men as they camped on the shore, a spokesman
said.

Ten Austrians in all were taking part in the tour.

The survivors alerted the Austrian embassy by satellite
phone about the fatal shooting of the 27-year-old victim. The
gunmen eluded a search party.

The ministry's website carries a travel advisory warning
about the risks of terrorist attack in Ethiopia and the danger
of kidnappings in some border areas, but has no warning for the
region where this attack took place.

Five Europeans, including an Austrian, died a year ago when
their travel group was attacked in the Afar region near Eritrea.